JACKSON, MI – The committee formed to study the financial
feasibility of a $9.5 million Cascades
renovationwill recommend that the controversial barrier wall come down first at a cost of
$500,000.

Committee members met for possibly the last time Thursday,
Jan. 16, and will present its recommendation to the county board of
commissioners at its 7:30 a.m. Tuesday Feb. 7, study session meeting on the
fifth floor of the Jackson County Tower Building, 120 W. Michigan Ave.

The committee recommendation, at this point, is to complete
the project in phases starting with removing the wall that was constructed in
1970. Repeated vandalism prompted county officials to enclose the illuminated
concrete falls which is considered the centerpiece of the Sparks
Foundation County Park. If the wall is removed it would be replaced with a
wrought-iron fence.

Since November, committee members have researched funding
sources and contacted a number of community foundations and private citizens.
Other possible funding sources could include fundraisers, National Park Service
grants, state carryover dollars, county general funds or taking out a bond.

While asking voters to pass a millage doesn't sit well with
a majority of committee members, it could be a "last resort," according to Dave
Elwell, the chairman of the Cascades committee and county board of
commissioner.

Once the wall comes down, the current seating area would
most likely cease to exist. The unofficial recommendation would replace the seating
area with grass, but some committee members have concerns about visitors with
disabilities not being able to sit on the lawn.

While most events at the Cascades take place at night, the proposed
design would open the area to visitors during the day for school field trips or
other gatherings.

The design also creates an open area that could be used for
special events like weddings and graduations. To help combat vandalism,
committee members all agree a security system with video cameras would need to
be installed. Additional staff would
probably not be hired to man the park during the day.

Committee members also will propose to the county board that
an individual be in charge of the fundraising campaign. Committee members
agreed the individual should not be an elected official.

"Someone known in the community and who is successful and
would take this project to heart on behalf of the community," Elwell said
adding that they should have good communication and organization skills.